Eye protector



5. 1 u a w mlm e Wa hw M@ 2, m y/ uw w, m .,M ,T 2 9 n .5. w .A w L l lf d, .4i 4. m Lbnw V\- o M .Am. h mmm.. M D? mmv. 4 :Pm 4 mmm .a n /5 .vv grid'. f6 f m .W 9 -D Il w W- M. a www Patented Mar. 26V, 1940 EYE PROTECTOR v Donald E. Kimball, Cleveland, Ohio, assignor to Bausch & `Lornb Optical Company, Rochester, N: Y., a corporation of` New York Application May is, 1937, serial No. 143,307

` 4 Claims.' (Cl. 2--14) This invention relates to eye protectors, more particularlysafety goggles, such as those kused by industrial workers, and others, for protecting. the

eyes, and has for an object'the provision of eye protectors of this type which are adequately ventilated, readily convertible from a light-excluding, to a light-admitting improved vision type, and in which adjustments in fastenings for the goggles to'acco'mmodate the same to different users, are

10. readily made. f i

In the drawings accompanying this specification and formingV a part of this application, l2

have Akshown, for purposes of illustration, embodiments which my invention may assume, and inl 15. .the drawingsz' `Figure 1 is a ltop plan View of the goggles, a portion of the head bandrbeing broken away to better accommodate the view to the sheet,

Figure 2 is a side elevational AView of one of they goggle cups, showing a fragment of the head band connected thereto.

Figure?)y is an enlarged fragmentary, horizon-v tal sectional view, corresponding substantially to the line 3-3 of Figure 1,

25, Figure l is an enlarged, `vertical sectional View,

corresponding substantiallyl to the line- 4%4 o Figurel,

Figure 5 isa view similar to Figure 4, showing conversion from the light-excluding type of Fig- 30. ure .4, to the light-admitting improved vision type,

Figure 6 is an exploded, perspective View, of the eye cup parts, and the manner of assembly of the Same,

,Figure 7 isn-a perspective View of a dierent embodiment of the invention,

Figure`8 is .a vertical sectional view through ani-5 eye cup, showing another embodiment of the.

invention, l 1 'i Figure 9 is a fragmentary view of the lighto excluding guard shown in Figure 8, l i

Figure 10 is afragmentary vertical sectionalL View through the head band structure employedy in connection with the invention, while f Figure 11 is a transverse sectional View corre- .spending substantially to theline I I-'I I oflFigN ure 10.

'As shown in thedrawings (Figures l through-6, and 10 and 11) the eye protectors comprise a pair' of'eye cups I5 and I6, of identical construction,

Vexcept for their opposite disposition. Each eye cupis preferably molded from a suitable moldablev composition, and comprises a circular section I'I,`

circumferentially threaded on the exterior,- as at I8, .and integrally connected with a rear section I9,having a curved contour 20 to iit, the face'of a user, the temporal portion 2I being-oi greater.V length than the nose portion 22, and `outwardly flared toward thereanas'at 23. va'plurality of ven tilating openings 24'being provided at' the 'top andr bottom in the rear` of the threaded portion I8 0i 5 the circularsection, asbestshown in Figure 6.' The ared portion 23jis provided with anaperture'k 25, closed by ascreen 2B, secured within theaper ture 25 by any suitable securing "means,';as .at 27.' The screen 2t is cut out to iorm1an,opening of any 10- desired shape, and the openingthus formed is v covered by a piece of suitably shaped clear glass A28, secured in position by any suitable means. In

some casesI may cover the aperture25 by a con,- tinuous piece of clear glass, but'I prefer to em- 15 ploy the screen and glass structure described, because oi the additional Ventilation obtained through the screen 26. By providing the glassl insert, unobstructed vision may behad by the I user from the side of the goggle, overcoming an 20A objectionable defect present in goggles as hither to existing. l o

In ythe constructionshown, particularly inFigl uresyl and 6, the goggle is intended for use as a welding goggle, from theinterior oi which light 2:5l must r'be excluded. Under' these circumstances the lens 29 will be dark colored,y and preferably used in'conjunction with a second lens 30, these lenses serving to'exclude light rays harmful to y' the eyes;v Thel lenses 29 and 3U are yaccommo- '30, dated Within a shouldered ring 3I,- interiorly threaded to engage the thread I8 of the circular f section I'I, and the shouldered ring, when fully` threaded home, willdetachably hold the lenses 29 and 30 in proper position with respect tothe 35; eye cup'. 'f

When used as a Welding'v gogglefor in am)7 oasel wherelight' must be excluded, it is necessary to screen theventilating openings 2d, as well as the glass insert28 and thescreen 26. For lthis puro pose I employfa detachable guard or shield'32, preferably `molded from Bakelite, or other suit` able material, having a flared portion 33 adapted to iitttightly against the inner surface of the flared portion 23 of the eye cup and overlie the 5 glass insert 28` and screenZ, and arcuate extensions 34 to overlie the Ventilating openingsV 2d'. The shield 32 has a flange 35` adaptedy to be clampedbetween the inner surfaceof the lens 29V and the adjacent edge of thecircular section Il, 50; as best shown in Figure 4, andv along the rear edge of each arcuate section 3i a spacing ilange 36 is formed, adapted to space the wall of 'the ange 36 being omitted along thev flared section so that this section fits tightly against the Wall of the eye cup. The shield 32 is also provided with a row of Ventilating openings 36 which are offset with respect. to the Ventilating openings 24, so that air is admitted while light is excluded.

For detachably securing the shield 32 in` position in its eye cup I-provide the shield with a plurality of male snap fasteners 39, and the eye cup with cooperating female snap fasteners 40, the fasteners 39 and 40 in each case preferably being molded in the material of which the shield 32 and the eye cup is made. As shown in Figure 6 the lenses 29 and 30 first may be placed within the shouldered ring 3|, the shield 32 inserted from the front of the eye cup, andthe fasteners 39 and 49 engaged, after which the shouldered ring is screwed home in the manner disclosed in Figure 4.

To convert the goggle (Figure into one in 'which light has free access,I not only through the ring 3l, but through the clear glass 28, and additional ventilation through the screen 26, the ring 3l is threaded off, thelenses 29 and 30 removed, the` .shield 32 removed, and a clear lens 4l substituted, usually with a beveled edge as at 42, a gasket` 43 being employed to take up an equal amount of space as the lenses 29 and 3D,

so that the ring 3l when again screwed home will be in proper position.

The eye cups l5 and I6 are secured together by a nose piece 44, which comprises a chain mem- 'ber 45, covered by a piece of rubber tubing, the

chain member 45 being made up of `a series of spaced balls 46, swiveled-on connecting bars 46a,

each endof the chain member 45 taking through an aperture 41 formed in each eye cup at a point in the rear of the ring 3l. For adjustably securing the related end of the chain member 45 in each eye cup, the 'eye cup is provided with a tangential bore 48 in which is reciprocably mounted a pin 49, adapted to extend between the balls 46, the pin 49 being urged toward engaging position by a coiled spring 56,'which in turn is vheld in the bore by a plug 5 I. A slot 52 .communicates with the bore 48, and in this slot works a finger-piece 53 threaded into the pin 49.

By this arrangement the distance between the two eye cups may readily beadjusted, it beingV "necessary only to retract the pin 46 by withdrawing the finger-piece 53, shifting one or more balls 46 of the chain 45 inthe desired direction for lengthening or shortening the distance between the eye cups, and when the desired adjustment :is obtained, allowing the pin 49 to return to engagement, so as to hold the chain member' 45 against detachment. Each of the eye cups is provided with a like pin arrangement aswill be understood. y .i

For supporting the goggles in position upon the head of a user a head band of a particular character is provided (Figures l, 2, 10, and 11). As

shown in Figures and 11 a coiled springv 54 of small diameter and of the desired streng-this encased in a, fabric sleeve 55, and to the ends of the sleeve 55 are secured ferrules 56, each having slots 56a through which portions of the sleeve ends extend, being secured by slip Vrings 56h. Each of lthe ferrules 56 is so constructed as to have one end of the-coiled springf54 secured thereto by any suitable means, the end of the coiled spring 54 being shown as held by a crimped portion of the ferrule, and having a straight extension 51 with its free end secured in the crimped .portion of the ferrule, while its intermediate 4porthe spring extension yielding zupon entry of the balls, but resiliently returning to position behind the ball to prevent accidental withdrawal. The opposite end of the chain is xedly secured to ananchor 6I, hinged to the krear end of the flaring portion 23 of thegoggle cup. When the head band is applied to the head of the user the spring 54, being readily extensible, is stretched, this action being permitted by the extensible fabric sleeve, and should `additional adjustment be necessary the chain is inserted or withdrawn with respect to the end ofthe band as already described.

Referring now to Figure'l a fragment of an eye cup62 is shown, being identical in every way to the eye cup already described, except for omission of the snap fasteners 46. In place of the snap fasteners, a forward-edge of the eye cup is provided with a plurality of spaced bayonet slots 63, only one of which is shown in Figure 7, and the shield or, guard 64, similar to the shield 3'2, is

provided with pins 65 in corresponding locations,

so that the shield or guard 64 may have the pins-65 engaged within-the bayonetslots 63, and

rotated to secure the shield 64 in position. Otherwise the construction shown in Figure 7 i'stheV 61 and a pair of slots 68, while the shield 69 has Y an opening for the reception of the pin 61, and

l turned ends 10 which may be snapped into the slots 68 for detachably securing the shield -in pos1t1on in the eye cup. Except for thedi-fferent type of mounting for the shield, the construction shown in Figure 8 is identical to that heretofore described.

From the above described construction it will be apparent that I have provided a Vconvertible type of goggles, wherein in one form, a. shield is secured in position, and dark colored lens `employed, eifectually excluding light from the inv terior of the. eye cup, at the same time providing for adequateV ventilation. With the forms of fastening means employed to secure the* shield in place, it is possible to unscrew the Vlens holding ring, and clean the lens, without disturbing the shield, the shield remaining secure against accidental detachment. When exclusion of light is not necessary, it is possible by removing Vthe shield and substituting a clear lens in place ofr the light-excluding lens, to obtainnot only clear vision through the lens retaining ring, but unobstructed vision out to the sides of the goggles, and ventilation is increased by provision of the screen which carries the clear glass window.

Additionally it may be pointed out that the length of the nose piece'may readily be adjusted without the necessity for unscrewing the lens carrying rings, the adjustment being made entirely from the exterior of the goggles while entirely assembled.

Finally by provision of a novel type of head band a large range of extensibility Lis .provided for, the head band `being very light in weight,

and the ends of the samel may readily be adjusted with reference to the goggles.

It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that I have accomplished-at least the principal object of my invention, and it also will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the em',- bodiments herein described may be variously changed and modified, Without departing from the spirit ci the invention, and that the invention is capable of uses and has advantages not c herein specically described; hence it will be appreciated that the herein disclosed embodiments are illustrative only, and that my inven-` `said housing having a light-admitting opening inthe side wall thereof; a shield overlying the interior of said side Wall to close said opening and exclude light when said dark lens is used;A and snap fastener means for detachably fastening said shield in position With reference to said housing, whereby said shield may be removed k When a light-admitting lens s employed.

2. yAn eye protective device, comprising: tubular housing means having'a viewing lens inv one end, and the opposite end contoured to t vthe face of the'wearer Aabout the eye socket, said tubular housing 'means having an opening in itsy side wall; closure means spanning said sidewall opening, said means normally admitting light rays` to the interiorl of said tubular housing means; and light intercepting means contoured to iitv said tubular housing means, constructed"A and arranged to shut out the passage of light rays v l through said side wall opening and into the interior of said tubular housing means; said housing mens and said intercepting means having quickly detachable complemental fastenings,=in

cluding snap fasteners of the glove fastening type. n

`3. An eye protective device, comprising: tubutubular housing means having an opening in its side Wall; closure means spanning said side wall opening, said means normally admitting light rays to the 'interior of said tubular yhousing means; and light intercepting means constructed and arranged to shut out the passage of light` ylar housing meanshaving a viewing'lens in one f end, and the opposite end contoured t t thev face of the wearerabout the eye socket, said.

rays through said sid-e Wall opening and into the interior of said tubular housing means;.k said housing means and said intercepting means havf ing spaced cooperable projecting means and socket means,and said intercepting means being somewhat resiliently iiexible to facilitate application and; holding after application of said pro-v jecting means and socket means.

4. An eye protective device,'comprising: tubular housing means having av viewing lens in one.

end, and the opposite end contouredv to't the facey of the wearer aboutthe' eye socket, said tubular housing means having an openingin its side Wall; `closure meansl spanning said side wall opening, `said means normally admitting lightv rays to the interior of said tubular housing means; and light intercepting,meanswcontoured to t said tubular housing means, `constructed and arranged to shut out the passage'of light rays through said side wall opening andinto the interior of said tubular' housing means; saidv housing means, and said intercepting means, havingquickly detachable complemental fastenings, including bayonet joint connecting means. ,f

DONALD E. 

